Maloney spot on as Deans continue to climb

A Mark Smith goal on the stroke of half-time and two second-half Jack Maloney penalties proved decisive.

The hosts, looking to bounce back from their defeat at Sholing, started positively.

Connor Duffin had a shot parried away for a corner and Smith forced another save from the Badgers’ goalkeeper.

Horndean remained in the ascendancy with Maloney, Benny Read and Smith all going close.

The breakthrough came a minute before the interval.

Robbie Tambling was put in and selflessly played the ball across to Smith who was left with a simple tap-in.

With about 20 minutes remaining Ian Humble’s goalbound header was handled on the goalline.

Maloney coolly tucked his spot-kick into the bottom corner of the net.

Brockenhurst reduced the arrears two minutes from time but the Deans showed character to restore their two-goal advantage at the death and seal the win.

That’s after Maloney converted his second spot-kick when Tambling was brought down by the last defender who was sent off.

‘We were good against a very stubborn Brockenhurst side,’ said manager Michael Birmingham.

‘At the start we flew out of the traps and our work-rate, desire and enthusiasm was second to none.’

Pete Stiles stretched his winning start as Fareham Town manager to seven games after the Reds triumphed 1-0 at Bashley.

A 70th-minute Jay Ripiner goal earned the visitors another three-point haul.

‘It was a fairly even first half but they put us under a lot of pressure in the second half,’ said Stiles.

‘But we have a bit of resolve about us now.’

Moneyfields suffered a disappointing 3-1 home defeat in the semi-finals of the Russell Cotes Cup.

Conor De Paul gave them an early lead but that was as good as it got for the hosts.

Gosport Borough slipped deeper into National League South trouble with a 2-0 defeat at relegation-battling rivals Truro City in Cornwall.

Debut-making goalkeeper Jon Miles, signed on loan from Ebbsfleet, gave away a 10th-minute penalty which Tyler Harvey stuck away.

There was no way back for Borough after Harvey added his second goal midway through the half.